ProMASS News Bureau: Jan 18, 2016:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for expansion of organic farming across the country as part of efforts to transform the agriculture sector. He also asked states to identify at least one district or block for starting it on pilot basis.
Addressing a conference of Agriculture Ministers of states in Gangtok, Mr. Modi also pitched for creating farming-oriented mobile phone apps, online mandis and value addition to farming. He also talkied about the benefits of the recently-announced Crop Insurance Scheme and the Soil Health Card.
As a means of financial security to farmers who suffer due to vagaries of weather, Modi suggested that they should divide their farming activities into three equal parts — regular farming involving crop production, growing of trees for economically-valuable timber and animal husbandry. Referring to the host state, he said Sikkim is scaling new heights of development while keeping environment protected. The Prime Minister lauded the efforts taken by sikkim to convert successfully its agriculture into organic farming.
